THCV: What We Know and What We Don’t

THCV is a fairly new cannabinoid in the world of cannabis discoveries, which means there aren’t many current studies out there. This leaves us with a few holes in our understanding of what it is and what it can do.

But we’re here to give a brief report on what we do and don’t know, just to help keep everyone on the same page.

What We Do Know:

1. THCV gives a great energy boost.

“In rodent studies, THCV decreases appetite, increases satiety, and up-regulates energy metabolism…” (Abioye et al., 2020).”

Our body’s Endocannabinoid System (or ECS) controls many things, including our energy and hunger metabolisms. These things are turned on by signals from certain receptors, and THCV works to signal these receptors to give a great and natural energy boost.

2. THCV can suppress appetite.

“…THCV, a neutral antagonist of the CB1 receptors, resulted in decreased food intake and body weight reduction in mice models; thus, exerting an anti-obesity effect in mouse models by food aversion,” (A. 2020).”

Some of those receptors THCV signals are called CB1 receptors, and in the case of hunger, THCV neutralizes the signals sent from THC to tell our body we’re hungry. Thus creating a suppressed appetite. No munchies!

3. THCV decreases THC-induced anxiety and paranoia:

“In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over pilot study involving ten male cannabis users (less than 25 uses/occasion), 10 mg pure THCV or placebo was given for 5 days followed by 1 mg intravenous THC infusion on the last day. When a low dose of oral THCV was administered before the THC intravenous dose, THCV blunted the well-known effects of THC including psychotic and paranoia effects, and impaired short-term memory,” (A. 2020).”

Part of our ECS’s duty is to regulate the nervous system. THC is a known disrupter of that, and sometimes comes with unwanted paranoia and anxiety. THCV provides some relief in that department, and still allows you to feel great.

What We Don’t Know:

1. How it works exactly.

“It is thought that THCV prevents the psychological effects of THC however; the mechanism by which THCV antagonizes the effect of THC is unknown” (Abioye et al., 2020). ”

We aren’t totally sure how THCV works with/around THC in our body’s Endocannabinoid System. There are a couple possibilities scientists are currently hypothesizing: the first is that THCV prevents THC from binding to the CB1 receptors in the ECS. And the second is that THCV still allows THC to bind to these receptors, but it just neutralizes the effects of THC so they aren’t felt as strongly.

We hope the exact reasoning will be found soon as to better understand the complexities of this incredible cannabinoid, and will hopefully aid in bringing its wondrous abilities to the rest of the world.

Source:
Abioye, A., Akinwekomi, A., Ayodele, O., Marinkovic, A., Patidar, R., & Sanyaolu, A. (2020, January 31). Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV): a commentary on potential therapeutic benefit for the management of obesity and diabetes. Journal of Cannabis Research. https://jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s42238-020-0016-7